Summer is the season for berries in Russia. We follow them into the forest, grow them on our own suburban areas, we buy from cute-looking grandmothers in the neighboring market, or we are content with what hypermarkets brought for us from abroad. We love berries because they are tasty and contain a whole storehouse of vitamins. But it often happens: our native Russian language, coupled with historical circumstances, casts doubt on our knowledge about something. So in the case of berries: strawberries or victoria?
Actually strawberry is a well-known herbaceous horticultural crop. The natural range of this plant is Europe. It is grown there as well. cultivated plant. Victoria same - this is one of the names of garden strawberries. Strawberry is also related to strawberry: strawberry is a hyponym for it, i.e. the name of the plant genus in this case. So Victoria and strawberries - different types of the same kind. Accordingly, they are similar in appearance, have similar taste characteristics, but differ in some parameters. So, for example, Victoria is not found in nature in the wild. In our country, it is one of the most common cultivated berries, while real strawberries are almost not cultivated in our country. At the same time, the name applies to all types of garden strawberries, even those that are not Victoria, since this is the most popular type of this plant in Russia. Also, strawberries have less large berries, but it is believed that they are sweeter and more fragrant (although it all depends on the particular variety, plant care). Strawberries do not creep along the ground, like strawberries, they are quite high even compared to the level of the leaves. Also, Victoria is a monoecious plant, and strawberries are dioecious (that is, male and female flowers are usually not located on the same bush).
Strawberry 
Victoria
Findings site
- Strawberries and Victoria - plants of the same genus strawberry, but different species
- Strawberries are grown more in Europe, and Victoria - in Russia
- Strawberries and Victoria have some differences in the structure of the plant, such as the size of the berries (Victoria is larger), differences in the vegetative system, as well as taste.
In those ancient times, when botanists were not yet subject to the desire to classify all the vegetation growing on Earth, there lived either a shrub or strawberry grass. She was known as fragaria, which in Latin meant "fragrant". Over time, it was divided into species such as nutmeg strawberries (Fragaria moschata), oriental (Fragaria orientalis) and forest strawberries (Fragaria colliana). At the same time, dioecious strawberries, that is, those in which female and male flowers are located on different bushes, were called strawberries . Round form berries of this species and gave her the name: club - ball - nodule - strawberry.
Excursion into history
Somewhere in the beginning of the 17th century. from the east North America meadow strawberries, later called virgin strawberries (Fragaria virginiana), were brought to Europe. A century later, the Frenchman A. Frezieu brought to Europe from Chile several bushes of hitherto unknown strawberries (Fragaria chiloensis) with sweet fragrant light pink berries. One of the bushes was donated to the Parisian botanical garden, where it crossed with a view of the virgin strawberry. As a result of such crossing, one appeared that is well known to us from our personal plots and is mistakenly called Victoria. The name "Victoria" has taken root and acquired meaning for all cultivated strawberries.
Thus, not every strawberry is a strawberry, not every strawberry is a Victoria, but the beautiful Victoria herself is a strawberry, as well as any other, in fact, a strawberry. In fact, Victoria is a strawberry variety named after an English monarchical person. It was brought to Russia one of the first in late XVIII century, and therefore acquired the meaning of a common noun. In fact, over two thousand are isolated within the species of these varieties! Among them are Alexandria, Baron Solimacher, Yellow Wonder, Lord, Victoria, Zenga Zengana, Bagota, Red Gauntlet, Festivalnaya.
The Victoria variety is cold hardy and resistant to pests and other diseases. Plants are decorated with wide leaves of deep green color, form large and strong bushes. The berries are large, sweet, fragrant, bright red.
Victoria (strawberry) bears fruit with a frequency of 1 time per year. On the territory of Russia, it is widely distributed in the southern part, cultivated on household plots and in horticultural farms for a long time.
Due to its rich taste, it is actively used in cooking, and the ability to retain useful substances for a long time has become the reason for popularity among hostesses during the conservation period.
Soil preparation
Start by preparing the ground. Seedlings should be planted in previously dug up soil. For planting plants choose a flat area, preferably with a slight slope to the west. The site should not be blown by the winds, otherwise in winter there will be little snow on the garden bed, and the plants themselves will freeze in the spring.
Victoria (strawberry): breeding secrets
For the ripening of berries on the bushes, as well as to avoid their decay, seedlings are recommended to be planted in rows at a distance from each other. You can mark the beds with a rope attached to pegs on both sides, so that the beds will be even and neat. Holes are made along the rope, in which selected sockets are planted. For convenient plant care and picking berries, planting is done in a ridge 10-15 cm high.
Experts recommend breeding Victoria in May, and not in August, when a flowering rosette is planted in the ground.
In order to get large berries in the summer, it is necessary to select rosettes with large inflorescences. You don't need to use empty flowers.
The socket is dug out with a clod of earth in order not to damage the root system of the plant. Thanks to this, the plant does not get sick and takes root faster in a new place. The first two or three rosettes from the mother plant are among the highest quality for propagation.
Strawberry Victoria: a description of plant care
Victoria (strawberry-strawberry) loves watering very much, it is necessary to water it at least 10 times during the season. To receive good harvest beds with seedlings need care and processing, namely the removal of weeds in the process of weeding.
It is better to mulch the earth around the bushes with straw, sawdust or wood shavings. This technique will keep the berries from contamination and infection with gray rot. Be sure to loosen the soil around the plants, to produce hilling if their root system is bare. Strawberry care consists in digging and planting rosettes with large inflorescences, throwing out unsuitable rosettes with a small inflorescence, no inflorescence or rosettes with a stiff root. Following the recommendations experienced gardeners, every year you and your family will rejoice bountiful harvest homemade fragrant strawberries!
A harvest for a gardener is joy and pride, because at this moment you can see the fruits of your labor. And if these fruits are sweet delicious berries, it becomes doubly pleasant. The most common berries in our country are strawberries and wild strawberries, often still use the name "Victoria". But many gardeners do not even know the difference between these seemingly similar berries. So what's the difference?
The history of the origin of plants
Strawberry won human attention many centuries ago; in Russia, its mass cultivation in gardens began in the 14th century. Strawberry was originally called a type of strawberry with the name "green strawberry". It is distinguished by berries that are round in shape, thanks to which the strawberry got its name - the berries look like balls. In the process of cultivating this strawberry in gardens, a little later, a hybrid of green strawberries and wild strawberries was obtained, while obtaining fragrant musk strawberries.
Noting the excellent taste of this type of strawberry, according to the royal decree, strawberries began to be grown in Russian gardens along with wild strawberries.
But Victoria appeared relatively recently, in the 18th century, when in Europe there was an accidental crossing of 2 types of strawberries - Chilean (imported from South America) and Virginian, which at that time was successfully cultivated in Europe. In the process of crossing, surprisingly large berries were obtained, distinguished by a bright aroma. It was this first hybrid that was brought to Russia and was named "Victoria" in honor of the British Queen. Victoria is also referred to as pineapple strawberry.
Since then, a lot of time has passed and breeders have brought great amount different varieties strawberries, but many gardeners often use the name "Victoria" for all types of strawberries and strawberries growing in the garden, which is fundamentally wrong.
Main characteristics
Strawberry is perennial plant, quite frost-resistant and easily cultivated in any climate. Strawberries belong to the Rosaceae family. Taking into account the varieties bred by breeders, there are more than 150 varieties of strawberries. This berry is native to East Asia from where it spread to Europe and America.
Strawberries have creeping shoots, which are called "whiskers", they take root very easily. root system not deep - about 30 centimeters. Leaves of complex shape, are on petioles up to 10 centimeters long. Strawberry bushes (musky strawberries) have the maximum splendor, their height reaches 30 centimeters, the smallest bush has plain strawberries, the size of which reaches only 10 cm. Flowering with white medium-sized flowers from May to July (until the first fruits ripen). Berries have the type of "multi-nuts" with numerous seeds on the surface. The color of the berries ranges from pale pink to deep red.
Common features
Chemical composition berries garden strawberry and garden strawberries are almost identical. They consist of more than 90% of water, in their composition they have a large amount of fiber, vitamins, minerals and trace elements.
Thus, there is no need to argue about which of these two berries brings more benefits to the body.
The content of vitamin C in strawberries and wild strawberries is very high, which makes them extremely useful for stimulating the body's defenses, and is also extremely beneficial for the cardiovascular system. Vitamin A is good for skin and eye health, B vitamins are responsible for stress resistance and regulation nervous system. Microelements such as potassium, magnesium and sodium regulate the work of the heart, calcium and phosphorus are good for bones and teeth, pectins have a positive effect on the work of the gastrointestinal tract.
Due to the rich composition, strawberries perfectly help in the fight against such diseases:
- infectious and viral diseases;
- inflammatory diseases;
- diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
- diseases of the endocrine system, diabetes of varying severity;
- diseases of the kidneys, liver and biliary system;
- inflammatory diseases of the skin.
Both plants have increased frost resistance and have similar growing conditions. Strawberries like to grow in sunny, windless places, preferably near some kind of fence, so that the bed with plantings is not blown by winds in winter. Strawberries prefer fertile soils, prone to root rot in wetlands.
Plants that are preferable to grow next to strawberries are corn and legumes. Growing next to the nightshade family can be a challenge.
As for the care of strawberries, she loves loosening the soil and abundant watering. These plants are very responsive to application. organic fertilizers, which increase the immunity of the plant and affect the yield.
How do they differ from each other?
Botanically, Victoria and strawberries have significant differences. For example, Victoria is a monoecious plant, that is, it is capable of self-pollination, flowers of both sexes are present on its bushes, which makes pollination easier, a lot of ovary is formed. Strawberry - dioecious plant, that is, flowers of the same sex grow on her bush, which makes pollination more problematic.
In order for strawberries to be successfully pollinated, it is necessary to have strawberry bushes with male flowers, which will not bear fruit. In the area where strawberries are grown, there should be at least about a quarter of the male plants for successful cultivation berries. Due to the low yield of this crop, strawberries are not grown on an industrial scale.
The structure of peduncles in strawberries and Victoria also differ. Strawberry peduncles are above the leaves, directed upwards, bloom very profusely. Victoria's flower stalks are closer to the ground, it is advisable to mulch her bushes so that the berries do not lie on the ground. Victoria's flowering is not as plentiful as that of strawberries.
On this basis, even in the spring, it is quite easy to distinguish strawberry bushes from Victoria.
The size of the berries of these two berries is very different, strawberries have small berries (up to 5 grams in weight), but very fragrant. Victoria has berries correct form, large, with big harvest ness, but palatability give way to strawberries. The color of the berries is also different. Victoria berries, as a rule, have a uniform rich color, reaching burgundy tones. Strawberry fruits are pale, on the shady side they can be completely white.
Strawberry leaves are lighter in color than Victoria's. By this difference, it is easy to determine what kind of bushes grow in the garden. Victoria can be harvested for a long time, as this variety is endowed with the property of remontant, unlike strawberries, which bloom and bear fruit only once a season.
You will learn more about how strawberries, victoria and strawberries differ from the following video.
Variety "Victoria" was obtained by crossing garden and forest strawberries in Europe in the 18th century. First, virginian meadow strawberries were brought there from America, and later - Chilean ones. By crossing these species, breeders of that time received large-fruited garden strawberries and named one of the varieties in honor of the queen - Victoria. It was the first variety of large-fruited strawberries that came to the territory of Russia. Therefore, it was this name that over time was assigned to all other varieties.
What is it, what does it look like and is it a strawberry?
Large red berries that now grow in almost every plot are mistakenly called strawberries or "Victoria" by many. In fact, these are garden strawberries, and real strawberries are rarely grown. Strawberry (from the old Russian “ball, spherical body”) is a dioecious plant - it has male and female bushes, which makes pollination and care difficult. At the same time, only females bear fruit, while males only bloom without forming ovaries, and rather aggressively occupy space. Because of this, the yield of strawberries is much less than that of monoecious garden strawberries.
In addition, real strawberries are smaller than garden strawberries, have lighter flesh, and their berries rise above the bush. In strawberries, due to their large weight and size, the berries are hidden under the leaves and hang low above the ground - hence its name.
Strawberry is a heat-loving plant that loves the sun. And strawberries feel better in the shade. Of the advantages of strawberries, one can also note the fact that it is more frost-resistant. Features and description of the berry variety "Victoria":
- bushes of large strawberries, with powerful leaves of deep green color;
- the flowers are white in color and there are a lot of them on the bushes - about a kilogram of Victoria can be collected from one bush during the season;
- red berries with small seeds and pink flesh;
- the average weight of fruits is 10-15 grams, the largest ones reach 50 grams;
- To taste, Victoria berries are sweet (sugar content about 9%), slightly sour and very juicy.
The variety loves heat and the sun, in the shade it ceases to bear fruit. This is another difference from strawberries. Frost-resistant, but in the absence of snow and temperatures below -8 ° C, it may die.
Benefit and harm
"Victoria" is unusually tasty and healthy. It contains a large amount of vitamins, trace elements and sugars.
- The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of Victoria help prevent colds. It contains as much vitamin C as a lemon. Eating garden strawberries will help you recover several times faster.
- In cardiovascular diseases, it should be taken as food to lower blood pressure, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, cleanse the blood of cholesterol and prevent blood clots. Important! If enapril is taken to reduce pressure, then strawberries should be abandoned - such a “partnership” will make it difficult for the kidneys to work.
- It helps to fight excess weight not only because of the low calorie content, but also due to the high content of plant antioxidants - anthocyanins.
- Strengthening of bones contributes to the content a large number potassium, magnesium, salicylic acid, and deficient vitamin K. These components help keep bones healthy.
- Memory improvement is due to the same anthocyanins. This is especially important for the elderly as a prevention of partial or complete memory loss.
- To reduce the risk of esophageal cancer, garden strawberries are dried and ground into a powder.
- The high fiber content in the berry contributes to the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. It soothes the liver and prevents constipation.
- Vitamin C helps maintain eye health. It prevents the aging of the retina, the development of glaucoma, cataracts and night blindness. It also accelerates the recovery of the cornea of the eyes.
- Diuretic properties help remove excess fluid from the body and prevent swelling.
- Anti-aging properties are also used for cosmetic purposes. Ellagonic acid in the composition protects skin cells from damage and wrinkles. Strawberry masks make the skin smoother. Strawberries also contain vitamin B7 - an important component for beautiful hair.
Beyond all useful properties, it is worth noting possible harm from the use of "Victoria".
- garden strawberry is a strong allergen, so you need to be careful and know when to stop. Especially children should be given it in small amounts.
- Excessive consumption increases the acidity of gastric juice and impairs the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
- A poor-quality product will do more harm than good. You can check this by appearance. good berries leave marks on the walls of the container. If such spots are not found, it means that the strawberries were abundantly treated with chemistry. If the pulp is white in the middle of the berry, it means that it contains a lot of nitrates. And most importantly - a rich aroma. If "Victoria" almost does not smell, then such a product should be discarded.
Landing and care
Growing garden strawberries begins with right choice site, soil preparation and planting.
"Victoria" prefers sunny areas with light sandy soil. In extreme cases, loamy is suitable. Strawberries will not grow on heavy clay and marshy soil.
The site must be protected from strong winds and be lit by the sun all day long. erect high bed not necessary, as in winter this will lead to freezing and death of the root system.
The soil must first be dug up with fertilizer. For one square meter 5-7 kilograms of humus, 20 grams of ammonium nitrate, 20 grams of potassium chloride and 25 grams of superphosphate are added.
Seedling holes are recommended to be made at a distance of 30 cm between neighboring plants and at a distance of 40 cm between rows. This will prevent infection of all the bushes in the event of a disease of one, facilitate care and the bushes will be better purged with fresh air.
The depth of each hole is about 20 cm. Before planting, they must be well watered.
planting material you can buy in the nursery or take shoots from existing plants. Sockets are suitable only from healthy bushes over the age of two years, and you need to choose the ones closest to the mother. You need to dig up the shoots very carefully so as not to damage the roots, preferably together with a clod of earth. The dug sockets are immediately placed in the prepared holes and covered with earth. Water the entire garden again.
After planting, caring for Victoria comes down to watering, mulching, fertilizing, loosening, weed and pest control.
Watering is recommended only during the dry period, 1-2 times a week, with warm settled water. Preferred drip irrigation so you can use a lawn sprinkler. If there is enough rainfall, then Victoria does not need additional watering.
- Mulching is done twice per season. Immediately after planting, the soil is covered with sawdust, wood shavings, straw and grain waste. It is necessary to ensure that the leaves of the bushes are not sprinkled. The second time in a season, mulching should be done after harvest. A layer of mulch prevents the development of rot in the berries, retains moisture in the soil longer and helps protect the roots from freezing in winter.
- Fertilizer and top dressing is done twice a year. The first time "Victoria" must be fed before flowering. As mineral fertilizer 2 spoons of nitrophosphate, 1 spoon of potassium and 10 liters are taken warm water. You can fertilize with organic matter every week. As such top dressing, you can take a green solution from weeds or a solution from baker's yeast. To prepare a yeast solution, you need to take a spoonful of yeast, pour a liter of water, leave for a couple of hours and add the mixture to 10 liters of warm water.
- Loosening the soil is necessary to supply it with oxygen. Since the roots of garden strawberries are located close to the surface, loosening must be done very carefully.
- Removal of weeds and mustaches is carried out throughout the season. Mustaches are recommended to be removed and for better fruiting strawberries, and to prevent its growth throughout the site. It is also necessary to remove all damaged leaves.
- Fight against diseases and pests. Only white spot and strawberry mite pose a significant threat to Victoria.
White spotting first manifests itself as red spots, then their center becomes white and holes appear. The disease affects not only the leaves, but also the mustache and fruiting strawberries. To get rid of the virus, the plant is carefully sprayed with Bordeaux liquid (1%).
This disease appears with excessive moisture, so for prevention it is important to adjust the watering processes. Before flowering, you can spray the bushes with a solution blue vitriol (3%).
The appearance of a strawberry mite is easy to notice: the leaves wrinkle, dry and turn yellow. Appears on the back white coating. In the fight against this insect, such means as "Fitoverm" and "Omayt" have proven themselves well. You can also use the "Clean Garden" and "Zolona". warm solution from these preparations, all the bushes in the garden are sprayed, and after three days they are covered with a film. With the help of the greenhouse effect, it will be possible to achieve the destruction of all pests.
Preparation of "Victoria" for the winter begins in August. To do this, they stop feeding the strawberries, remove the extra whiskers and rosettes, and dig up the earth between the rows. Closer to the cold, the beds cover. Straw, coniferous branches and any organic breathable materials are suitable for this. Synthetics are not recommended to use, it can cause the plant to rot.
Collection and storage
The berries of "Victoria" are considered ripe if they have acquired a bright red color right up to the tips. The fruits of garden strawberries are stored for a short time, so harvesting should be done as needed. best time is morning or evening. It is not recommended to pick strawberries after rain - a wet berry will quickly deteriorate.
As a collection container, a low one is best. wooden box. So the berries will be less wrinkled and will be able to "breathe". The best option there will be the use of several containers at once - so you can immediately sort out large, small and slightly rumpled berries.
You can harvest with your hands or with small scissors, cutting off the fruits along with the sepals.
harvested needs to be processed as soon as possible. Over time, the berries deteriorate and lose their beneficial properties.
Fresh "Victoria" can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. From berries for the winter, you can prepare jam, compote, jam and much more.
Freezing will help keep strawberries fresh. To do this, the berries need to be washed, dried and laid out in bags or special containers. In winter, frozen strawberries can be added to pastries, rubbed with sugar, cooked fresh jam or compote.
Jam from "Victoria" in five minutes
When using this recipe with a short heat treatment useful vitamins are preserved in the berry.
To prepare the strawberries, wash them, remove the sepals, sprinkle with sugar and leave for several hours. For one kilogram of sugar, two kilograms of berries are taken. After the strawberries start up the juice, you need to put it on a slow fire and bring to a boil. After boiling, cook for 5 minutes, periodically removing the foam.
Pour the finished jam into sterile jars and seal tightly.
And Victoria - many gardeners very often get confused in these names. Looking ahead, it should be said that in most cases this is what they call large-fruited strawberries. So, where did these names come from and how to properly call these berries, this will be discussed below.
Strawberry is a genus of herbaceous plants, which includes both wild-growing species: meadow strawberries and wild strawberries, as well as cultivated ones. For example, pineapple strawberries. Characterized complex leaves trifoliate and sprawling shoots in different directions, which have the ability to take root easily.
Strawberry flowers are bisexual. The root system is fibrous, located at a depth of no more than 20-25 cm. The fruits are complex, represented by false berries. The seeds are quite small, located on the surface of the berry. The flowering period is at the end of May. Fruiting begins in July.
Strawberry is the collective name of several related species. Most often, this is what the common people call large-fruited strawberries obtained by crossing two wild-growing species - Chilean and virgin strawberries. The word "" itself comes from the old Russian "club", which means twisted, round. Also, strawberries are often referred to as green strawberries. It grows in abundance in meadows and forest edges.
Victoria is one of the first varieties of garden large-fruited strawberries. It was first brought to Russia in the 18th century.
It is a varietal variety of pineapple strawberry, which is widely grown as a fruit crop.
The name "Victoria" stuck very firmly to strawberries. It happened for one simple reason. When this culture was first brought into the territory of Russia, there was only one variety of it, Victoria. And when someone asked what kind of newfangled berry it was, they answered that it was “Victoria”. Since then, this confusion has gone on, the name of the species has changed with the name of the variety.
The main differences between strawberries and victoria
For greater clarity, you can consider the main differences between strawberries and Victoria. So the quiz:
Strawberry:
- It has dioecious plants. That is, on one bush there are only female flowers, and on the other only male ones. Therefore, when growing it, it is necessary to plant at least a quarter of male plants that will act as pollinators.
- Uneven color of berries. Reddish purple on the sunny side, pink or white on the shaded side.
- The weight of the berries does not exceed a few grams.
- Low yields. This is due to the male plants present in the garden and smaller berries.
- Harvested only once.
It is these facts that will help to understand the berries.
Achievement of selection - earthworm
The selection of berry crops does not stand still. And as a result of crossing two closely related species of garden strawberry and nutmeg strawberry, a completely new culture was obtained - earthworm. It is characterized by tall and well-developed bushes and flower stalks rising above the leaves, which, even when loaded with berries, remain upright.
Zemklunika has almost 100% tying. Almost every one of her flowers turns into a berry. have a rich red color with slight purple hues. Their pulp is dense with a light nutmeg aroma, the taste is somewhat reminiscent of wild strawberries.
The use of strawberries is universal. They are equally good both fresh and for processing. When cooked, they retain their shape well, practically without being boiled. The ripening period of berries falls on the end of June beginning of July.
While watching the video, you will learn about growing strawberries.
From all the above differences, the following conclusion can be drawn. Victoria is an old variety of large-fruited garden strawberries, which are most often sold on the market under the guise of strawberries. On the this moment a lot of other more promising and productive varieties this culture. And the name Victoria has simply become synonymous with the species.
